"The removal of this asbestos in this particular facility is in anticipation of future redevelopment of the building for research labs and those sort of facilities and potential classrooms for the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] College," said Ron Cole, YSU spokesman.

The grant is the first step in what YSU hopes is the effort to get the Garfield Building, which has been vacant for several years, online for the STEM College, the article stated.

"The building requires significant renovations, and it''s going to require significant dollars. So we are removing asbestos while simultaneously looking to identify future funding sources for the process," Cole added.